Folding coop or crate.



.T P. MAHONEL FOLDING GOOP. 0R CRATE. APPLICATION FILED JULY 10, 19.08.

Patented May 25', 1909.?

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J. P. MAHONEY. FOLDING COOP 0R -CRATE. APPLICATION rum) JULY 10, 1968. 922,606, Patented May 25, 1,909. IZSHBETS-SHEET a.

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PATENT @FFTQE.

JERE P. MAHONEY, OF ATLANTA, GEORGIA.

FOLDING- COOP OR CRATE.

Application filed July 10, 1908.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JERE P. MAHONEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Atlanta, in the county of Fulton and State of Georgia, have invented or discovered certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Coops or Crates, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to a folding coop or crate more particularly intended for use in the transportation of poultry, but also adapted for use for other purposes; and the invention has for its object to provide a folding coop or crate which may be made at comparatively little cost, which can be compactly folded for transportation when empty, and which is provided with devices by which it can be securely and conveniently fastened when in set up or extended condition.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved crate or coop set up ready for use. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the same in folded condition. Fig. 3 is a cross section of the same on line 3-3, Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 a cross section on line 1-t, Fig. 2. Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are detail views illustrative of the fastening devices.

Referring to the drawings, 12 denotes the bottom part or floor of the coop and to which are hinged end pieces or panels 13 adapted to fold inward so as to lie fiat on said floor. The bottom part or floor of the coop is provided at its sides with strips or side pieces 14L and 15, one of which is higher than the other and to which are hinged the side parts or panels 16 and 17 one of which is of less height than the other, so that their tops will be on a level. The wider strip or side piece is preferably provided with an opening or openings 11 extending above the top of the floor and the bottoms of which are preferably on a level with said floor, so

that dirt accumulating on the floor can be tipped out or removed through the said opening or openings when the coop or crate is set up in closed condition. To the said side parts or panels are hinged the top parts or panels 18, one of which will preferably be somewhat wider than the other, so that the combined width of the narrower side panel and wider top panel will equal the combined width of the wider side panel and narrower Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 25, 1909.

Serial No. $12,830.

top panel. The height of the side piece or strip 14 above the floor of the coop is about equal to the thickness of the end pieces or panels 13, so that the side part or panel 16, with the top part or panel which is hinged thereto, will lie flat upon the infolded end pieces or panels when these parts are in the folded position shown in Figs. 2 and 4; while the higher side piece or strip 15, to which the narrower side panel 17 is hinged, will permit the said side panel 17 and the top panel 18 hinged thereto to lie flat upon the other infolded side and top panels, as more clearly shown in Fig. 41; while by making the said side and top panels of slightly different widths not only will the tops of the side panels be on a level with each other, but with the attached hinged top panels they will fold compactly and evenly. It is not important, however, that the top panels be of different widths, although this is considered preferable. ()ne of the top panels is preferably provided with an ordinary selfclosing door with spring hinges.

The improved coop or crate is provided at each end with fastening devices which will securely join the top panels together and hold them down against the end panels, the construction being such as to prevent acci dental displacement of the parts. To this end each end panel is preferably provided with two metal plates 19 having open topped slots 20 with inward horizontal extensions 21 forming right angular slots like the slots of bayonet joints. The outer walls of these slots are preferably rounded, as shown. To each end of one of the top panels is secured a plate 22 which carries a swiveled eye 23 and to each of said eyes is attached a hook 24. The other top panel is provided at its ends with screw eyes or eye-bolts 25 adapted to be engaged by said hooks. hen the top panels of the coop or crate are folded down the shanks of the eyes 23 and 25 will pass downward in the vertical slots 20, the rounded outer walls of said slots facilitating the entrance of said shanks into the same; and when the shanks have reached the bottoms of said slots they can be shifted laterally into the horizontal extensions 21 by moving the said top panels inward and the upper walls of said horizontal extensions will then prevent the free ends of the foldeddown panels from lifting, and when the hooks 2 1 are engaged with the eyes 23 the upper panels will be connected in such a manner that they will be securely held together, and vertical displacement thereof will be prevented, as will be understood.

\Vhen the coop or crate is in the folded condition shown in Figs. 2 and at the hooks 24 will be engaged with scii'ew-eyes or eyebolts 26 at the ends of the bottom piece or floor of the crate, so that the crate will be securely and compactly held together in its folded condition.

The invention is not to be understood being limited to the details herein shown. For example, it is obvious that the dimensions or proportions of the parts forming the coop or crate may be varied, and that the folding panels or parts may be of any suitable material. That is to say, the said folding panels or parts may comprise wire or wooden rods or slats, instead of the wire netting herein shown, and when wire netting is employed the flfll'DGS of thesaid folding parts or panels may be of any suitable material, and saidfran'ies, when of wood (which is preferable) may be halved together at the corners, or otherwise suitably constructed.

Having thus described my invention 1 claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent: 1. A folding coop or crate comprising a bottom part or door, hinged infolding end and side pieces or panels and folding top parts or panels hinged to said side pieces or panels, combined with means for securing the said top parts or panels to said end pieces, said means comprising metal plates on said end pieces having right angular slots, a swiveled eye attached to each end of one of said top parts or panels, a hook carried by each of said swiveled eyes, and eyes at the ends of the other top part or panel to be engaged by said hooks, and the shanks of which eyes are drawninto the horizontal portions of said slots when said eyes are engaged by said hooks, thereby preventing the closed top parts or panels from lifting.

2. A folding coop or crate comprising a bottom part or floor having side pieces of different heights, infolding end pieces or panels hinged to said bottom or floor, side parts or panels, of different heights, hinged to said side pieces, folding top parts or panels hinged to said side pieces, and means for securing the said top parts or panels to said end pieces, said means comprising metal plates on said end pieces provided with right-angular slots, a swiveled eye attached to each end of one of said parts or panels, a hook carried by each of said swiveled eyes, and eyes at the ends of the other top part or panel to be engaged by said hooks and the shanks of which eyes are drawn intothe horizontal portions of said slots when said hooks are engaged with said eyes.

3. A folding coop or crate comprising a bottom part or floor having side pieces of different heights, and the wider of which is provided with one or more openings extending above the bottom of said floor, infolding end pieces or panels hinged to said bottom or floor, side parts or panels of different heights, hinged to said side pieces, folding top parts or panels hinged to said side pieces, means for securing the said top parts or panels to said end pieces, said means comprising metal plates on said end pieces having rightangular slots, a swiveled eye attached to each end of one of said top parts or panels, a hook carried by each of said swiveled eyes, and eyes at the end of the other part or panel to be engaged by said hooks, and the shanks of which eyes are drawn into the horizontal portions of said slots when said eyes are engaged by said hooks, thereby preventing the closed top parts or panels from lifting.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

JERE P. MAHONEY. l Vitnesses J. J. HASTINGS, Soorr DAVIS. 

